Earth anchor



C. R. PiEPER EARTH ANCHOR Filed July 1'7, 1959 June 1, 1943. 2,320,464

INVENTOR CHESTER R. PIEPER ATTORNEY Patented June 1, 1943 EARTH ANCHORChester R. Pieper, La Crosse, Wis., assignor to Iron ProductsCorporation, La Crosse, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin ApplicationJuly 17, 1939, Serial No. 284,872

2 Claims. (Cl. 18992) This invention relates generally to earth anchorsadapted for use in anchoring to earth, guys and like supportingelements, and more specifically to an earth anchor of the type whichincludes a plurality of pivoted blades that are adaptedto be expandedinto undisturbed earth adjacent to a hole in which the unexpanded anchori introduced, for anchoring the anchor structure in place in the earth,the predominant object of the invention being to provide an earth anchorof the type mentioned which is made up largely of parts stamped fromsheet steel or other sheet metal.

Prior hereto anchors of the type to which this invention relates weremade up largely of parts in the form of castings, and while such anchorsperformed their intended functions with a fair degree of success, thereare a number of advantages attained when anchor parts in the form ofmetal stampings are employed in the produc tion of the anchors. Brieflystated the improved anchor disclosed herein comprises a pair of bladeswhich are pivoted together for relative pivotal action, ablade-expanding member that includes nut retaining means associatedtherewith, and an anchor rod which is connected to the blade-expandingmember. The blades and the blade-expanding member, together with the nutretaining means thereof, are formed of metal stampings, the only partsof the completed anchor structure which are not in the form of stampingsbeing the anchor rod, and of course its nut, and a certain insert whichis disposed within the blade-expanding member for bracing purposes.

Thus an improved earth anchor is provided that is made up largely ofparts stamped from sheet metal which because of its character i notsusceptible to the imperfection frequently found in castings. Alsobecause of the use of parts formed from sheet metal stampings a savingin shipping weight is realized without any sacrifice of strength of theparts or holding power of the anchor.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the lower portion of the improved earth anchorshowing the blades in their extended positions, the anchor rod andportions of the associated blades being shownin section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the anchor structure illustrated in Fig.1, the anchor rod being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken on line 33of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 arefragmentary, inverted plan views of the improved anchor showing themanner in which the nut retaining means will engage nuts of differentsizes, the nut retaining means of Fig. 6 being in section.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 88 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing theappearance of one of the improved anchors in a hole prepared thereforand before the blade of the anchor have been expanded.

In the drawing, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improvedanchor generally. The anchor A includes a pair of blades l and 2 whichare formed from sheet steel or other suitable sheet metal, said bladeswhen viewed in side elevation having the shapes illustrated in Fig. 2.In other words, each blade is provided with a substantially compoundcurvature that includes a definite concave outer portion B and aslightly convex inner portion C. This curvature of the blades I and 2 isimportant in connection with the holding power of the anchor when it isdisposed in the ground with its blades expanded, as the convex bladeportions C exert an outward force against the earth in resistingdisplacement of the anchor in addition to the upward force exertedagainst the earth by the convex blade portions 13 in resistance to suchdisplacement of the anchor. The blades l and 2 are provided each withlongitudinally extended strengthening ribs as shown to the bestadvantage in Figs. 1 and 4, each blade being provided with a central,relatively heavy rib 3 extended upwardly from the blade when said bladeis horizontal, a pair of lighter ribs 4 which emerge from the side wallsof the rib 3 and project downwardly beyond the opposite face of theblade, upstanding ribs 5 of less height than the central rib 3 whichemerge from side walls of the ribs 4, and downwardly projected ribs 5which are narrower than the ribs 5 and emerge therefrom. Preferably theribs 6 are slightly curved through their inner portions as shown inFig. 1. Also each of the blades l and 2 is provided with shoulder 4'which are formed by cutting the material of the ribs 4 transversely ofsaid ribs and by shaping the material of the ribs at one side of thecut.

At its inner end each blade i provided with a pair of spaced extensions1 and 8, theextension l of each blade being located immediately adjacentto a side edge of the blade, and the extension 8 of each blade beingspaced inwardly from the opposite side edge of the blade as shown to thebest advantage in Fig. l. The extensions 1 and 8 of each blade includeeach a curved wall 9 which is a continuation of the blade and thiscurved wall serves as a tamping surface that receives tamping blowswhich serve to expand the blades as will be presently explained herein.Also each extension I and 8 includes a side wall I located at one sideof the extension in which an aperture is formed approximately centrallythereof. The side walls In of the extensions 1 and 8 are formed fromportions of metal which are displaced from the body of the blade duringthe blade forming operations, and because said side walls are inte. gralwith the curved walls 9 of the extensions Very rigid and durableextension structures are provided.

When the pair of blades l and 2 are assembled in their operativepositions the side walls II] of the extensions 1 of the respectiveblades are arranged in contacting relation with the ide walls ID of theextensions 8 of said blades, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 1,so that the apertures formed through said side walls of the relatedextensions are in registration, and rivets II are arranged in saidapertures to pivotally attach the blades together. Also, with regard tothe assembled blades it is to be noted that each blade is provided witha cutout portion I2 which cutout portions combine to provide an openingI3 throughwhich the anchor rod I4 extends when the anchor i in itsassembled, operative condition.

The improved anchor includes also a bladeexpanding member I5 whichcomprises a pair of stamped, sheet metal disks I6 and ll of slightlyconvex formation, the disk I! being provided with a marginal flange II'within which the marginal edge of the disk I6 is fitted as shown in Fig.3. When the disks I6 and I1 have been assembled as described themarginal flange ll of the disk I1 is spun or swedged inwardly to causesaid marginal flange to partially embrace and engage the marginal edgeof the disk I6 and thereby securely fasten said disks I6 and I1 togetherto provide a hollow, unitary structure. The disk I6 has a recess I8pressed therein which is shaped as shown in Fig. 6, said recess beinggenerally of elongated, rectangular shape with relatively deep,triangular-shaped recess portions I9 formed in the opposed longer sidewalls of the recess I 8 and with relatively shallow, triangularshapedrecess portions 20 formed in the shorter end walls of said recess I8.The disk I6 has secured thereto a nut retainer 2| which is in the formof a substantially U-shaped length of stamped material which is welded,or otherwise secured, to the disk I6 at its upper ends as designated bythe reference character M in Figs. 2 and 3. As shown in Figs. 5, 6, and7 the nut retainer 2| is of slightly less width than the recess I8formed in the disk I6 and the inner faces of the opposed side bars ofsaid nut retainer are located at the outer ends of the shallowertriangular-shaped recess portions 20 of said recess.

In order to brace the blade-expanding member I5 of the improved anchoran insert 22 is arranged within the hollow interior thereof. If desiredthe insert 22 may be in the form of a casting which includes a slightlyconvex body portion 23 provided with an outer marginal flange 24 and aninner, annular flange 25. Also, if desired the insert 22 may be providedwith radial ribs to give to the insert the required strength andrigidity. The insert 22 is preferably tack welded to the disk I! of theblade-expanding member, as shown at 22 in Fig. 3, to retain it in itsproper position where the outer face of the body portion thereofcontacts with the inner face of said disk I1, and where the lower facesof the outer marginal flange 24 and the inner annular flange 25 contact,respectively, with the inner face of the disk I6 of the blade-expandingmember and inner face of the base wall of the recess I8 formed in saiddisk I6. The opening formed through the inner annular flange 25 of theinsert 22 is slightly tapered, as shown in Fig. 3, the disks I6 and [1of the blade-expanding member I5 are provided, respectively, withopenings 26 which are alined with the opening through said inner,annular flange of said insert.

When the anchor is in a completely assembled condition the anchor rod I4extends through the opening I3 provided by the cutaway portions I2 ofthe blades and through the alined openings in the disks I6 and I! of theblade-expanding member I5 and the insert 22. A nut 21, which is embracedby the nut-retainer 2| is applied to the lower, screwthreaded endportion of the anchor rod, and the extreme lower end of the anchor rodcontacts with the horizontal bar of said nut retainer.

In putting one of the improved anchors in use a hole is formed in theground in line with the proposed line of extension of a guy to beanchored by the anchor, said hole being of such diameter that it willjust receive the folded anchor. The anchor is then introducedinto thehole with its blades in their folded condition as shown in Fig. 9, saidblades being held in their folded or collapsed, condition by lightlengths of wire 28, or other fastening material, which are passedthrough apertures 29 and 30 formed in the blades and in theblade-expanding member, respectively, and which have their ends twisted,tied or otherwise fastened together. A tamping bar is then passeddownwardly into the hole and the curved walls 9 of the extensions I and8 are struck tamping blows with the aid of the tamping bar. The tampingblows so directed against the curved walls 9 of the extensions I and 8will break the lengths of wire, or other material which holds the bladesin their folded condition, and the curved faces of the ribs 4 riding onedge por tions of the blade-expanding member will cause the blades to bemoved outwardly to" penetrate into the undisturbed earth at oppositesides of the hole. When the blades have been expanded a sufficientdistance the shoulders 4' thereof will pass over the marginal edge ofthe blade-expanding member and engage said marginal edge of saidblade-expanding member, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to lock the bladesand the bladeexpanding member together. When the blades and theblade-expanding member are so locked together by engagement of theshoulders 4' of the blades with the marginal edge of the bladeeexpanding member, the lower edges of the side walls I0 of the extensionsI and 8 are in contact with the top face of the blade-expanding memberas shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and any upward strain on the anchor bar I4which tends to move the blade-expanding member and the pivoted jointbetween the blades upwardly relative to the outer end portions of theblades will produce increased locking action between the shoulders'4' ofthe blades and the marginal edge of the blade expanding member. When theanchor has been arranged in place in the ground as described theprepared hole is filled and the anchor is ready for use.

It is obvious that an anchor made in accordance with this invention isvery durable and is capable of emcient operation, and because theblades, the blade-expanding member (other than the insert 22 thereof),and the nut retainer of the improved anchor are made from metalstampings, the advantages which flow from the use of parts so made areattained.

An advantage incident to the use of the nut retainer forming a part ofthe improved anchor is that nuts of different sizes may be employed withthe anchor rod of the anchor. When a nut of one standard size isemployed with the anchor rod it is disposed as shown in Fig. 5 where thenut 21 is not disposed in the recess l 8 of the disk l6 of theblade-expanding member but is arranged in contact with portions of thelower face of said disk l6 adjacent to the recess l8 therein. This isthe arrangement shown in Fig. 3 where the disposition of the nut outsideof the recess l 8 is clearly illustrated. Also when a nut of a differentstandard size is employed it may be arranged as shown in Fig. 6 wherethe nut 21a, is disposed in the recess l8 and. corner portions of saidnut are seated in the triangular-shaped recess portions [9 and 20 ofsaid recess I8. Additionally when a nut of still another standard sizeis employed it may be arranged as shown in Fig. 7 where the nut 21b isarranged in the recess [8 with opposed flat faces of the nut in contactwith portions of the opposed longer side walls of the recess I8. Inaccordance with all of the nut arrangements described the nut retainer2| holds the nut in position to maintain the anchor rod and theblade-expanding member in securely connected relation when the lower endface of the anchor rod has been screwed into contact with the lower barof said nut retainer.

I claim:

1. An earth anchor comprising a pair of blades, means for pivotallyconnecting said blades together, a blade-expanding member comprising apair of disks formed of sheet material connected together at theirmarginal edges and shaped to provide the blade-expanding member with ahollow interior, a bracing insert disposed within the hollow-interior ofsaid blade-expanding member, said bracing insert being of disk formationand being provided with an annular marginal flange, and an anchor rodconnected to said blade-expanding member.

2. An earth anchor comprising a pair of blades, means for pivotallyconnecting said blades together, a blade expanding member comprising apair of disks formed of sheet material connected together at theirmarginal edges and shaped to provide the blade-expanding member with ahollow interior, a bracing insert disposed within the hollow interior ofsaid blade-expanding member and secured to one of said disks, saidbracing insert being of disk formation and being provided withconcentric annular flanges, and an anchor rod connected to saidblade-expanding member.

CHESTER R. PIEPER.

